for some reason you feel "American" because you were able to buy a ticket ...out of Poland some 50 odd years ago.
Do you realize how many Poles would love to do the same but didn't because they were not smart enough to play and outsmart the system?
BTW, in my case, it was not a boat, but a train and, later, a flight to New York. That was Sunday. By Wednesday, I had a job paying about 75 grand, adjusting for inflation and a brand new, top of the line Chevy in three months. 50% down.
I feel "American" because I am. No split loyalties, no stupid hyphens, no Polish spoken for the last 45 years. And I intensely dislike Polish language and the people. You guys are embarrassing with your kurwa this and kurwa that in every single sentence. Plus famous as drunks and thieves.
Fifty years in the US is more that the majority born here actually lived so I have more attachment and experience than they do. As I posted earlier, I banned Polish language from my household and made sure my kids speak not a word in it and have zero attachment and loyalty to that country.
Now you can ask all the hyphenated clowns here which side of their hypen they would take in the event of a conflict.